Insert Strong Bad voice:
Like a Phoenix, from the ashes
...she rises again!
Written in the Stars (if you have a better play on title let me know...)
By Gilmoregirl1979 (the reigning Quote Queen)
Rating: PG-13
Hi this is your friendly disclaimer: Once again, I don't own (DAMN IT!), No Harm No Sue. WE just use the Gilmore Girls dolls during our slumber parties…. It's fun (shirtless Luke: with coffee pouring action, and the "Fry it and Buy it" Luke's Diner Play Set sold separately!)
R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)
Summary/ The Q: What if LL hooked up when they first met? A bona fide woulda What if things had moved … a touch more quickly…?
Luvz: in the words of hello Dolly I am so glad to be back…
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Chapter 5:
A Cup'O'Luke
As Thursdays do, the date night had finally arrived. After much anticipation, Lorelai was mixed with looking forward to her night with Luke, but dreading coming home and having to answer to Rory.
"You've been watching that clock awfully intently?" Mia came up beside the junior assistant manager who was biting her nails and staring at the clock down as if sheer will would make it go faster.
"Was I? I'm sorry Mia," Lorelai pulled her hand away from her mouth to keep from chipping her freshly painted nails.
"Some where better to be?" Lorelai's boss kindly prodded.
"Oh well, umm … no?"
Knowing better, Mia didn't believe her. "Lorelai how long have we known each other?"
"10 years."
"That's a decade. I've seen you grow up, I've watched Rory grow up… and I know when you are lying," the seasoned woman smiled. "Now you have been staring at that clock since Lunch, and don't think I haven't seen those cootie catchers you are hiding under the reservation book. … Now tell me more about this date."
Lorelai looked surprised, and then sighed when she figured, "Sookie told you."
"She caved like a flan in a cupboard, now who is he?" Mia looked at Lorelai as another one of her children, the daughter she never had, and she was protective and certain that no man was good enough for this vivacious soul.
Lorelai swallowed, "Luke… from the diner in town."
"Really?" Mia was now very intrigued; "so he asked you out?" he's finally over Rachel…
"Yes."
Keeping her tone objective, Mia asked, "And you said yes…"
"Yes" Lorelai prepared for a scolding from the woman whose opinion mattered most. Mia was more nurturing and understanding than Emily had ever been, after 10 years it would be a shame to ruin that beautiful relationship over a guy.
"Does he know? About our … little angel?" figuring Luke wasn't really in the main stream being the town hermit since his father died.
"No," Lorelai said meekly, "I only met him a few weeks ago, and then all of a sudden he asked me out…" Lorelai began to feel more and more like canceling.
Mia cutting off Lorelai's defense with a low, "Does Rory know ... about him?"
"No… I didn't want to upset her … if things didn't work out," Lorelai got out quickly; this conversation was not helping her nerves.
"So… she thinks…"
"… That I'm just working late," Lorelai finished.
Mia nodded, "You have a babysitter?"
"Sookie."
"Ahhh," Mia considered for a moment. That was why she was so eager to get home, recalling how Sookie crashed into her a few minutes ago, and how she offered all the information she had on Lorelai's date under Mia's gentle questions.
Lorelai almost flinched; here it comes.
"Well I think it's wonderful."
Lorelai's head snapped toward Mia, "You do?"
"Yes, you've been hibernating for far too long, a beautiful thing like yourself tucked away? Now I know you've had your reasons…but… "
Lorelai sighed, "but I'm lying to him I should give him the whole picture."
"That isn't what I was going to say. I was going to say … I think it's about time … and there will be a time and place for all that … disclosure. I know Luke a little bit, and I think he'll surprise you, but for now I want you to have fun tonight. You hear me?"
"Okay?" happy to have a warm wish from a parent, Emily wanted Lorelai to focus more on the connection of the beau's family rather than actually having a good time or enjoying his company.
"Seems like the only thing left for you to do … is get ready. Why don't you go change?" Mia pulled out a bag Lorelai had stashed beneath the desk.
Lorelai stared at the bag she thought she had hidden so cleverly, and then looked at Mia, How did she know, "Now?"
Mia smiled and gently confirmed "Now," Lorelai maybe just what Luke needs.
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Lorelai changed as instructed at the Inn. She had told Rory she would be working late, because of her new training to take over for Carly… yeah, that's the ticket, so that would explain why she had to stay out late, and Sookie would be there to watch her.
When Lorelai parked in front of the diner she had to remind herself to breath. It had been 10 years since her last date, a date with Christopher; it was a date whose sole purpose was to tell Chris that she was pregnant with Rory.
Lorelai almost wanted to go home, but then she saw Luke come out of the back room. Luke was dressed up nice with a button up shirt and slacks, and would you believe, without a baseball cap. His cook seemed to be giving him a hard time about having a date. Luke gave a few last orders, when he looked out the window, saw her, and smiled.
Too late now, Lorelai smiled at him, at how well he cleaned up, at how she had been looking forward to this company all day long.
Lorelai got out of her jeep, and headed in the diner. She heard Luke bark at his cook, "not a word."
"Am I interrupting?" Lorelai smiled.
"Nah," he seemed a little nervous too, "umm would you mind if we took my truck?"
"No, not at all," and Lorelai noted the cook snickering behind the counter.
"Okay," then under his breath, Luke had the last word with his cook, "At least I have a date."
"I'm married," the cook defended with a shrug.
Luke had opened the truck door for Lorelai, and when Luke settled in on his side, Lorelai had to know, "what was that all about?"
"Awww just… nothing…" and Luke put his keys in the ignition.
"What? Tell me."
"Ben was… just ragging on me, that's all."
"Okay, About what?" Lorelai tried to connect the dots, "… about our date?"
"He just… thought it was ... Funny."
"What? You dating?"
Luke sighed, "That you … picked me up… instead of the other way around…"
"Ohhhh," seeing she may have bruised his ego, not letting him come to her front door and all that traditional stuff.
"He called it … modern," Luke rolled his eyes.
Not sure what to say to that but thinking it funny all the same, Lorelai kept her mouth shut.
"I've never… met anyone like you…" Luke finally added, "And that's a good thing."
"It's nice to be unique;" Lorelai beamed, "Is … that why you asked me out?"
"Yeah … I haven't really… dated much … so in advance, I hope you have a good time."
"Like wise on both counts."
And the first date was on its way.
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While waiting for the movie and all through dinner, Lorelai had strategically avoided the subject of family on purpose, so she wouldn't accidentally slip about Rory. And really do you want to be talking about your mother or his mother on the first date?
Like most first dates, it was full of those awkward pauses, and accidental touches that were scary but thrilling at the same time. Lorelai had debated about playing full on footsy with him under the table, but decided she would just tell him more about movies he had to see, or TV shows he needed to watch.
"So you work at the Independence Inn?"
"Yeah"
"So… what do you do?"
"Well ummm, I'm currently a renaissance woman of hospitality… most of the time…I'm a junior assistant manager… you know…" a little embarrassed by her low position, especially talking to someone who owned his own business, "I'm still in training to be part of the management staff, but from time to time I help run weddings and events at the Inn, and very rarely I do the time warp and dawn my old maid outfit… "
"Oh you were a maid?" Luke was just nervous, he never been good at small talk, feeling everything he said sounded stupid.
"Ummm yeah, that's how I started," I needed a job to support my daughter, guilt set in again, "but I've worked my way up…oh I help my friend Sookie as a hostess for the dining room."
"Oh, I know Sookie…"
"Yeah, she's …great… sooo thanks to Mia… I do a bit of everything."
Since Luke now knew she was a local, Lorelai shared some stories about different guests she had met at the Inn or town fanfare he may have missed and he in turn told stories about people who had passed through his diner, asking for directions, buy a map you cheapskates.
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When they returned to Stars Hollow, Luke shook his head as they walked from his truck toward the diner, "I still can't believe we went ten years without meeting each other, living in the same small town."
"Maybe it's not as small as you think … or maybe we just moved in different circles," like PTA.
Luke began to consider what would have happened if they had met while he was still with Rachel. He may not have noticed Lorelai at all, or he would have had guilty feelings thinking of another woman. Or maybe he would have simply pined for Lorelai in silence. NAH!
"Must be fate", Lorelai deduced, taking in the empty streets of Stars Hollow, people don't usually stay up late in this burg.
"There is no fate?" here we go again, a soon to be classic Luke and Lorelai argument. …. Luke and Lorelai…. I do like the sound of that.
"Oh no," and she took his hand, "Then what made my car stall out? Or my tire flat?"
"Neglect?" he smirked.
She ignored him, "Of all the people in town, what made you be the one to come to my Rescue?""
"What made you come in my diner for the first time?" he joined in the rhetorical speculation.
"Exactly!" she smiled.
"It wasn't fate" He rolled his eyes, which had become a habit whenever she was talking crazy, but he liked how her hand fit so well into his.
"Yes it was," and Lorelai explained, "I usually go into Weston's, but on that day of days, Fran had to go out of town for a family funeral. I was having one of the worst days ever and naturally needed a coffee fix. With Weston's closed, where would I go? What would I do? Who would be my savior? Then, I saw your happy yellow sign… "
"It's not a happy yellow," Luke scoffed.
"…In the shape of a coffee mug and a few weeks later … here we are, and it is a happy yellow."
Luke considered her argument for a moment, "…whatever it was…" It's been two long years gotta get back in the saddle again, and Luke stopped to look her in the eye, "… I'm glad our paths crossed now."
Lorelai hoped he didn't see the added color in her cheeks. They walked up the sidewalk, and a choice needed to be made, into her Jeep or into his diner. She knew she had to get home, that was the responsible motherly thing to do, but she didn't want their night to end just yet.
"So how about a cup'o'Luke?" and she nodded toward he diner.
"A what?"
"Well you're name is not Joe," she reasoned, " and your coffee is by far the best I've ever had, and now I feel weird calling it anything else, particularly since … we are on a date. You're not supposed to talk about other men on the first date."
"Okay?" hoping her logic would make sense eventually, "… but you really shouldn't be drinking Coffee this late at night. You'll have trouble sleeping."
I'd have that anyway … thinking about you ... Stop it! "Well, I guess you'll have to stay up with me and keep me company." Lorelai said over her shoulder as Luke opened the diner door for her. Then one of those awkward "first date silences" fell on the pair again as she took a seat at the counter and watched him make a fresh pot just for her.
"So why did you open a diner?" playing with a napkin from the dispenser.
"Well I knew how to cook," Luke shrugged, "people always gotta eat."
"That's logical," She nodded, "Do you… ever change your menu?"
"I am not putting chili cheese fries on the menu," As he placed a hot mug in front of her, hoping to silence the request for the last time.
"But I can guarantee they will be a big hit." Rory and I will eat tons … that is, if I ever bring Rory in here…. Oh boy. She came back to the present when Luke sat next to her on one of the other stools. She shyly moved her mug around on the counter. "I had a really good time tonight."
"Me too."
Luke was maybe 2 feet away from her, sitting on his stool. Lorelai looked him up and down to try to read his mind, but when he leaned in to kiss her, she knew he was thinking the exact same thing she was. She had been wondering what it would be like to kiss him since his David Bowie comment, and Lorelai couldn't help herself; she had kiss him back, she had to be close to him. Here was a gorgeous man and he was interested in her, so she stood up to lean against him wrapping her arms around his neck, completely neglecting her coffee on the counter. Maybe if she could keep busy kissing him, she would stop feeling guilty for lying to him
Well not lying, just not… revealing the whole truth yet. That would definitely kill the mood, hey Luke by the way I'm a mom. She wasn't sure how much time had past, standing in the middle of a diner that smelled like onion rings, making out with a wonderful man like she was a teenager again. When Lorelai had a sense of her surroundings again, she realized Luke was standing too, his arms around her to keep her close. Lorelai pulled away to catch her breath and her thoughts.
Luke loved being with her, Lorelai made him feel things he hadn't felt in a long time, not since Rachel left, But when Lorelai pulled away, Luke made sure he got out a quick but sincere "I'm sorry, …"
Why does he have to be so sweet? It only made Lorelai want him more. "Are you kidding? I've been waiting all night for you to do that," and she kissed him again.
Lorelai wanted to focus on Luke and on the moment, but soon Rory's face kept popping in her head as Luke deepened the kiss. "Although," she chimed in…pulling away again, "It does seem very… exhibitionist … doing this here … at the diner," noting the large windows, and open blinds, Not that anyone else is up this time of night, and not sure what else he had in mind for the first date, or what she had in mind, for that matter, fighting the urge to pull him into the storage room she heard him speak so much of.
Resting his forehead against hers, Luke sighed, "You're probably right…"
She didn't mean to talk him out of the kissing; I love the kissing, I want more of the kissing, but Luke whispered, "It's late," with his hands rubbing her waist and torso.
"Yeah…" she admitted, seeing the spell was broken. He's being a gentleman, stopping things … before we get too carried away… and boy could I ever get carried away.
Luke walked her outside to the Jeep, "I'll see you … tomorrow?" he asked hopefully.
"Definitely," Lorelai forced a smile, still not wanting to leave him… "Good night Luke."
"Good night, Lorelai," and he kissed her again, and Lorelai knew it was for the best to remove herself from the situation, when she pulled away the second time, Luke blurted out, "are you free Saturday?"
"Why?"
"I want to see you again, that's why?" thinking asking for Friday night might be too eager.
"You sure you're not sick of me?" she narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Positive."
Without further consideration Lorelai breathed "okay… Saturday."
"Great … are you sure I can't drive you home?"
"Got my Jeep…" she jingled her keys.
"Right, right..." feeling stupid he forgot there was a 3 ton jeep standing next to him, and disappointed he couldn't spend more time with her.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Luke watched as she climbed in her jeep and disappeared… again. He shook his head as he turned off the lights in the diner, and climbed the stairs to his apartment, wondering if he'd sleep a wink after that kiss.
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After hearing the Jeep pull in the driveway, Rory met her mother at the door, "Hey Mom! Wow, you look nice," gazing up in admiration of her mother's advancing career.
"Thanks Hon," Lorelai smiled, hoping Luke didn't leave handprints on her from that last kiss. "What are you still doing up?"
"How was the first night?" Rory ignored her mother's question.
"The first night?" staring at her daughter, did she figure it out? How did she figure it out?
"Yeah, at the Inn, Are you doing the night manager stuff now?"
"Oh no, I'm just … still in training… you know … so when Carly has her baby I may take over that position … temporarily."
"Sooo what did you do tonight?" Rory wanted to hear all about it.
Taking off her coat, Lorelai completely fibbed, "Oh Hon, you know… help people find their way around, checked people in … really boring… stuff" trying to keep nonchalant, made out with a boy…
Rory's brow furrowed examining her mother, "What's wrong with your lip stick?"
"My lipstick?"
"It's all … smudged?"
"Oh well," Lorelai shot a guilty glance at Sookie, who was suppressing a grin. Lorelai explained to her daughter "…I wasn't really sure if I liked this color when I put it on this morning... And when I just looked at it in the car… I realized… this shade really doesn't transfer well for nightwear sooo… " She felt like Emily had just caught her sneaking out the balcony window.
Rory shook her head at her silly mother, "it's a rear view mirror, not a make up mirror."
"Well from any view mirror it was horrible. So I … tried to get it off as best I could," By kissing a gorgeous man… oh boy.
Sookie manage to pass off some of her laughter as coughs and excused her self to get a drink of water, to keep from tipping to Rory something was up.
Ignoring her spastic friend, Lorelai focused on the motherly duties of the evening, "Brush your teeth?"
"Yes" Rory smiled brightly.
"Brush your hair?"
"Yes."
"Wash your face?"
"Yes."
"Why do I bother asking anymore?" blessed with the perfect kid, then she thought she'd stump her daughter and asked, "got my million dollars yet?"
"The compound interest still needs to mature; you'll have it in about 25 years."
"Okay good as long as you are on top of that."
"Okay, since you're home safe and sound… I'm going to bed now."
"Oh really…?" Lorelai asked suspicious.
"Yes," Rory answered innocently.
"It's a school night, bed means sleep, not in bed reading the Iliad …"
Rory crossed her arms; "I'm on the Count of Monte Cristo now."
I can't keep up, Lorelai smiled at her little egghead, "Finish the chapter you are on and lights out."
Rory saluted, "Right away, Zatara" with a strange accent, and Rory went off to her room.
Ummm I'll ask later.
The adults were now alone and young ears occupied with tales of hidden identities and lost loves, Sookie pressed, "How was it?"
"It was … great … and one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. "Lorelai started shaking her head, and plopped on the couch, "Oh Sookie what am I doing, I'm a mom I can't date."
"Okay, we've had this conversation before. And I thought you said it was great?"
"No, it was. The best first date… ever … though I don't date much to begin with so … what do I have it to compare it too?"
"2 minutes on your parent's balcony and bamn you got Rory." Sookie offered.
"Exactly… and that was like 10 years ago."
"Well where'd he take you? Luke doesn't seem like… the moon light and roses kinda guy."
Happy to share the details, Lorelai's smile returned, "Actually we went to a second run theater, he picked up early that I like movies so that was nice."
"AHHH, so what was playing?"
"Well, I mentioned Labyrinth to him a while ago, and he found a theater playing it. And he let me talk through the entire movie, mostly to explain things to him. Then, he took me to this place owned by old friends of his, with great food, and then…"
"And then?" Sookie was on the edge of her seat expecting at least a good night kiss.
"He took me back to the diner, for coffee, cause of course I'm me and I needed coffee…."
"And?"
"Well, we were talking and then he got closer, and we started kissing…."
"OOO how was it?"
"Very … nice." She admitted, having missed it for more than 10 years.
Sookie asked the leading question, "Is there more?"
"Well I felt a little slutty, doing … what we were doing…that in the middle of the diner, like we were moving too fast …"
"And?" Sookie felt as though she was about to explode right there on the couch if necessary.
"…And he was a complete gentleman walked me to my car, kissed me goodnight… again… and I left."
"Awwwww," Let down by the anti climax, Sookie slumped on the couch.
"Sookie it was the first date!"
"… But you really like him… and he likes you… and you haven't…" Sookie waved her hand, to fill in the blank.
"I know…." I was there…
"…For a long time. … Aren't you like… you know… hungry? You know … for … that?"
Recalling Luke's hands on her, trying not to think about it… "Starving actually, but it was good; we can take it slow… I mean really that was the problem with Chris right… we went too fast, we didn't think… and ….we well, I… got pregnant."
"So you're gonna see Luke again?"
"Saturday," Lorelai admitted.
Sookie Squealed, "OOOO this is so exciting our own small town romance…"
"NO!" Lorelai realized.
"What?"
"You can't tell anyone…"
"Why not?"
"Because … it could get back to Rory."
"Okay? But if things keep going well you will have to tell her eventually."
"I will, I just need … the right moment…" or motivation, or a backbone….
"You'll have to tell him eventually too, you know."
"I know…" Gilmore, what have you gotten yourself into?
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A/N: congrats to all who got the Book Right!
A/N: Ben and Luke… Like Star Wars LOL
A/N: I always thought it was weird that Nicole picked Luke up at the diner… and how the first thing Luke did was introduce his date to Lorelai?… It's not like Nicole asked "hey who the hell that is?" Or "who's your friend…?" or "Are you pining for anyone I should know about?" Lorelai just wanted coffee, she was just sitting there … I think it would have been better if Luke completely ignored her and just left, no explanation… Lorelai didn't introduce Luke to Alex when they went fishing… Lorelai said " …you don't want to hear about my personal life…" how right you are… any dirty scandalous tales of you and other men are SOOOOO not on Luke's favorite things to hear list… so I think the same should be true, Lorelai you don't wanna hear if Luke is getting it on with another woman…
I understand the purpose for Nicole, with Luke being taken… Lorelai was free to go out with Jason … and EWWWWW I still can't believe she slept with Jason I mean EEWWW he had man boobs and a gut…. That's Gross Lorelai
A/N: two words... smudged Lipstick? LOL
A/N: I SWEAR I wrote that modern bit about Lorelai picking up Luke at the diner… before 6.01 even aired.
Unfortunately, I have no witness cause of my lack of Internet for the month due to the Move…
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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you Luke!
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity, ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) At least specific thing you liked
Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)
Hence the Rant option below.
Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund …